by Matt Gardi
While he is not Mark Twain, Dennis Reeves Cooper is a great writer and has been a fantastic asset to Key West over the years. I have been amused by the many comments that I have read and heard regarding Dennis after word spread around the Keys that he suspended publication of Key West the Newspaper.
Most amusing to me are those that are rejoicing in the challenges Dennis is facing because I know for a fact that while he is down, he most certainly is not out! I’m reminded of Rocky, in the first movie, hanging on the ropes, with his coach Mick yelling for him to stay down. But Rocky pulled himself up to continue to fight on.
Those of you who have been relishing in the fact that Dennis Cooper now finds himself on the ropes might be the first to remind me that Rocky ultimately lost the fight. But just as in the movie Rocky, our hero’s battle may not be what every one else might perceive it to be. For as you see, Rocky won because all he ever wanted to do was go the distance and be standing after 15 rounds.
As with Rocky, those throughout the community that are giddy at the prospect of Dennis Reeves Cooper suspending publication and having financial challenges might find themselves a bit disappointed as Dennis pulls himself up the ropes and returns to the ring for another swing. You see, anyone who knows Dennis, knows full well that his victory is not in running a newspaper that makes millions of dollars, but rather in being a vigilant watch dog in our community. His victory is knowing that when officials or business people might consider doing something a little shady, that they have to pause and wonder to themselves, “Is this going to end up on the cover of the Blue Paper?”
Plato referred to Socrates as the “gadfly” of the state, as he irritated certain people in power with his pursuit of justice and what is right. Dennis Reeves Cooper and Key West the Newspaper play such a role in our community.
Further, Cooper has, and continues to be, an inspiration to others who champion the same cause. The many contributors, including myself, whom over the years have come to him with stories, or written their own know full well what a value, Dennis and Key West the Newspaper have been to our community over the years.
To the chagrin of Cooper’s foes, support is flowing in, and the crowd is cheering for this under dog to pull himself up the ropes and continue the battle. At the end of Rocky, the crowds were not cheering for the fact that Apollo Creed had won another fight, rather they were cheering for the fact that the underdog southpaw from Philly went the distance. They were cheering for the fact the Rocky had won his own battle, and inspired us all to fight on in the face of great adversity.
Fight on Dennis, fight on!
While he is not Mark Twain, Dennis Reeves Cooper is a great writer and has been a fantastic asset to Key West over the years. I have been amused by the many comments that I have read and heard regarding Dennis after word spread around the Keys that he suspended publication of Key West the Newspaper.
Most amusing to me are those that are rejoicing in the challenges Dennis is facing because I know for a fact that while he is down, he most certainly is not out! I’m reminded of Rocky, in the first movie, hanging on the ropes, with his coach Mick yelling for him to stay down. But Rocky pulled himself up to continue to fight on.
Those of you who have been relishing in the fact that Dennis Cooper now finds himself on the ropes might be the first to remind me that Rocky ultimately lost the fight. But just as in the movie Rocky, our hero’s battle may not be what every one else might perceive it to be. For as you see, Rocky won because all he ever wanted to do was go the distance and be standing after 15 rounds.
As with Rocky, those throughout the community that are giddy at the prospect of Dennis Reeves Cooper suspending publication and having financial challenges might find themselves a bit disappointed as Dennis pulls himself up the ropes and returns to the ring for another swing. You see, anyone who knows Dennis, knows full well that his victory is not in running a newspaper that makes millions of dollars, but rather in being a vigilant watch dog in our community. His victory is knowing that when officials or business people might consider doing something a little shady, that they have to pause and wonder to themselves, “Is this going to end up on the cover of the Blue Paper?”
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| The Bust of Socrates in the Vatican. Look Familiar? |
Plato referred to Socrates as the “gadfly” of the state, as he irritated certain people in power with his pursuit of justice and what is right. Dennis Reeves Cooper and Key West the Newspaper play such a role in our community.
Further, Cooper has, and continues to be, an inspiration to others who champion the same cause. The many contributors, including myself, whom over the years have come to him with stories, or written their own know full well what a value, Dennis and Key West the Newspaper have been to our community over the years.
To the chagrin of Cooper’s foes, support is flowing in, and the crowd is cheering for this under dog to pull himself up the ropes and continue the battle. At the end of Rocky, the crowds were not cheering for the fact that Apollo Creed had won another fight, rather they were cheering for the fact that the underdog southpaw from Philly went the distance. They were cheering for the fact the Rocky had won his own battle, and inspired us all to fight on in the face of great adversity.
Fight on Dennis, fight on!
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